Snow and ice melting device



NOV. 11, 1952 R \BON|| LA 2,617,597

snow AND ICE MELTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. RAMON BONlLLA REF Nov. 11, 1952 R. BONlLLA 2,617,597

' SNOW AND ICE MELTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1951 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4/STEAM. swan/won OIL BURNER IN V EN TOR. RAMON BONILLA BY Nov. 11, 1952vR. BONILLA SNOW AND ICE MELTING DEVICE Filed Dec. ,6, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SNOW AND ICE MELTIN G DEVICE Ramon Bonilla, New York, N. Y.

Application December 6, 1951, Serial No. 260,168

/ 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices forpreventing the accumulation of snow on street surfaces.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of adevice supported at an elevated position above a street so as to meltfalling snow to thereafter drop as rain and flow from the street andsidewalk surfaces into the usual catch basin of the sewer system in amanner to eliminate the expense of snow removal, to eliminate personalinjury resulting from pedestrians slipping on accumulated snow and toeliminate vehicle skidding resulting in automobile damage and possiblepersonal injury to vehicle passengers and pedestrians.

A further object of the present invention proposes characterizing thesnow melting device by a main feeder pipe supported above the street soas not to interfere with vehicle and pedestrian trafiic and from whichbranch pipes extend in opposite directions so that steam under pressurefed into the main feeder pipe will discharge from apertures formed inthe branch pipes to melt the snow before it can fall onto the street andsidewalk surfaces.

Still further, the present invention proposes providing a hollow beneaththe sidewalk at one end of the main feeder pipe and within which a steamgenerator heated by an oil burner 01" similar source of heat is mountedand connected to the said one end of the main feeder pipe in a manner tosupply the steam under pressure which is to discharge throughthe'apertures of the branch pipes for snow melting purposes.

The present invention further proposes the inclusion of manuallyadjustable means at the outer ends of the branch pipes for controllingthe angular discharge of the steam from the apertures at the outer endsof the branch pipes or for completely shutting off the discharge ofsteam from the outer ends of the branch pipes in a manner to restrictthe steam from flowing down the side of buildings and store windows orthe like located on opposite sides of the street.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide snow meltingdevices of the type described, which is simple and capable of beingassembled in an economical manner, which is effective for its intendedpurposes, which is capable of a long trouble free operating life andwhich can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had tothe followingdescription andaccompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the variousnovel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the presentdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a street intersection provided with a snowmelting device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantiallyon the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken at the junction ofone set of branch pipes with the main feeder pipe.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the end of one ofthe branch pipes taken on the line l! of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan View similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but illustrating amodification of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the end of one ofthe branch pipes shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig.9.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line II--II of Fig.9.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing a different position ofthe parts. v

The snow melting device, according to the f rst form of the presentinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, is mounted above a streetintersection having crossing street surfaces I5 and I6. The streetsurfaces I5 and I6 are bounded on their two sides by sidewalks I1 andbuildings I8 designated by the sectional portions at the four corners ofFi 1.

The snow melting device includes a main feeder pipe I 9 which issubstantially of cruciform shape to have one length of pipe Iil extendedparallel to the street surface I5 and a second length of pipe I9extended parallel to the street surface I6. From Fig. 1, it will benoted that the lengths of pipes I9 and I9 forming the main feeder pipeI9 are disposed above the sidewalks Ill along one of the sides of thestreet surfaces liand I6.

At the point where the lengths of pipe I a and I9 forming the mainfeeder pipe I9 cross one another, they are joined by a four-way pipefitment 20. Each'of the lengths of pipe le and I9 is made up of aplurality of end aligned lengths of pipe joined together by four-waypipe fitments 2| and mounted on three outer ends of the lengths of pipeH3 and I9 there are T- shaped fitments 22. Threaded into the fitments 2|and 22, to extend in opposite directions from the main feeder pipe l3and parallel to the street surfaces l5 and I6, there are branch pipes 23and 24. The. four-Way connections 2P; located above two'corn-ers 'of'thesidewalks H; are similar in construction to the four-way connection 20as will become clear as this specification be-- comes clear. length ofpipe l9 is provided with an elbow fitment 25 for a purpose which willalso become clear as this specification proceeds.- I

Referring now to Figs. 2 and5, the four-way fitment 20 and each of thefour-way fitments 2| is formed at its bottom with a dependedinternally-threaded socket 2.6. Vertically extend--- ed' p0sts--2'| arethreaded-at theirfitop. ends .into, the sockets 26..Mounted:;'on.-thebottom nds-of:

the posts 21, there; arefoot. portions 28. which are bolted to thesidewalks? Mounted onthe" lengths of pipe. I9. and I92; inwardly of the:T-

shaped fitments 22, there-are coll-ars 29 that-fit snuglyaboutthelengthsrof pipe :1 9 and: 9?. At

are of equal length'andcombinetosupport-the main feeder pipe IS:- andthe.- branch pipes: 23 and 24 at a: levelabove: the street surfaces l5and I6 so as not to interfere withivehicular'traffic. on the streetsurfaces'andpedestrian traflieon the sidewalks=|'|. a

The branch pipes 23 are longer-than the branchpipes 24andextendcompletelynacross thestreets and stop short-of-the.-buildingss|8-..at:the: opposite side of the street. extend justto-theadjacentbuildingsd8= at the sides otthe streets :on which .thelengthsof. pipe H3 and l9 of the main feeder pipe are located; Theouter. ends of.branchpipes.23..and'24are closed by caps 33 thatarethreadedintoposition. Alon 'their lengths, thebranch pipes-23 and 24have spaced apertures-34. Asbestshown in Fig. '7, the-apertures.34iarearranged 'in-sets of two apertures.. 'I'hetwo. aperturesotroneset arelocated at either end .-of -the horizontal diametralaxisand.the.two.apertures.of, the other set arediverged,outwardandnpward on opposite sides of the vertical. diametral:axis. of the branch pipes... The. apertures-34. are of' relae tivelysmall diameter. to; discharge steamrunder pressure. in a.fine spray. tomelt theefalling snow before it can fall on the streetsurf-acesgl5ca'nd.

I 6 and thesidewalkst, It is-appreciated-of course, the spray; of,steam: under. pressure will the. discharged upward and outward and;laterally out-l ward -in opposite directions from: either side: of

the branch pipe=23 and 2:45

The branch pipe 23 'which extends .from the one four-way fitment Z "isformed 50f end aligned pipe sections joined'together by three-way. orT-' shaped fitments 35; see Fig; 1. There =is one 1T-" shaped fitmentfor'each of the" branch pipes 23 extended fromthe length of pipe I 9between the four-way fitment 20 and the 'other four way fitment 2 I andthose branch pipes-23 are'joined' The remaining outeri -end of the Thebranch pipes 24.

4 at their ends remote from the length of pipe Is to the T-shapedfitments 25.

In all other respects, the branch pipes 23 and 23 are similar to thebranch pipes 23, with the exception that the outer ends of the branchpipes 23 are joined to the T-shaped fitments 35rather than being closedby end caps 33.

Mounted in each of the branch pipes 23, 23 23 and 24', closely adjacenttheir connections withthe lengths of pipe |9 and" l9 there is a manuallyoperable valve 36. The valves 36 are normally open, but provide a meansfor individually. shutting off the branch pipes wherever it becomesnecessary to repair or replace one ofxthe .branch pipes withoutrequiring the shutting ofi of the entire system.

Means is provided'for supplying steam under pressureqinto the mainfeeder pipe to discharge from the apertures 34 of the branch pipes. Thesteam, supply. means is housed within a hollow 31, see Fig. '3; formedin ,theside'walk'il below the end of the. main feeder. pipe..lsuwhichhasthe elbow 25; mounted thereon; Thetop wallof the hollow. 3].has anentrance opening 38. which.

opens .upward through. the. sidewalk,v The en-. trance opening .38isclosedbya pivotallymounted trap. door.39;which .has= its. top .faceflush with the. sidewalk. l 1.. Mounted. on the. onewall of.

erator 4| mounted'inposition over an oil .burner.

42 that rests on the.fioorotthehoHow.37;. Water is supplied.to.,-the.steam generator. through a pipe 743 which extends. from.thehollow 31 and is.

connectedto. a source. offwaterunder. pressure. A valve. 44mountedpinpthepipe43 controlsthe flow of water through the pip e.43into-thesteam generator. 4|

Steam produced. within the. generator 4|. is

conveyed therefrom by, a..pipe.45.1 The pipe 45.

exits through the top wall 'of thehollow 3flland is connected atits topend. to the. elbow fitment25 mounted on'the, end ofithelength'of pipe,[9 of,

the. main feeder pipetlS. The steamgenerator 4|is providedwiththegusual,safety valve 43, pressure gauge 41. andsight glass 48 in whichthe water level withinpthe steam generator 4| can be-determined':Mounted. in the exit pipe 45, within the hollow 31; there is: amanuallyoperable valve 49.

The. oil burner 4251s supplied withoil from a storage tank 50 mountedinan elevated position.on a pedestal .51.. At its'top, the storage tank50"is provided with a' filler spout ,52closed bya removablecap 5.3; Thefiller spout 521 is exposed within the; entrance opening 38 so that whenthetrap door;39"is opened the supply of oil within-thegtank 50 canb'e'replenishedthrough the fillerspoutr.

The-bottom ofjthe storagetank 50"is connected to theoil burnerby meansOf'BiIli-DB 54; Mounted in the pipe there ,is amanually'operable valve55 which can be shut'ofi cutting off the supply of oil tothe oilburner";

Extending from'the back of. theoil burner 42 there is a flue pipe56*for-carrying away the gases of combustion; The top end'of the fluepipe 56 exits through the topwall of the hollow "31 closely adjacent thepipe 45, see Figs. 2 and 3: Supported above the outer end of the fluepipe 56, there is:a-hood 5-'| 'for closing the-top end of the pipe.Theend'of-the flue pipe-56 extends a'sufticient distance above thesidewalk I! so that water:

flowing on the sidewalk will not enter the top end of the flue pipe andfiow down into the oil burner 42.

The operation of the snow melting device is as follows:

When a snow storm is expected or at the moment the snow starts falling,someone enters the hollow 31 through the open trapdoor 39 and starts theoil burner 42. The valve 49 is closed and the gauge 41 is watched. Whenthe desired pressure is built up within the steam generator 4|, asdetermined by the gauge 41, the valve 49 is reopened so that the steamunder pressure can discharge from the pipe 45 and into the endof themain feeder pipe I9. .The steam will flow through the lengths of pipeIll and 19 forming the main feeder pipe and then into the various branchpipes. From the branch pipes the steam will be discharged in a finespray through the apertures 34 to melt the snow as it falls through thespray of steam. The melted snow will then fall as rain and be carriedaway by the usual sewage system. The oil burner 42 is allowed to operateas long as the snow continues to fall. When the snow fall stops, the oilburner 42 is again shut off.

The modification of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 12 ischaracterized by the provision of means for independently controllingthe flow of steam under pressure from the outermost apertures 34 of thebranch pipes 23 and 2 5. This means is provided for keeping the steamfrom contacting the surfaces of the buildings It! and especially fromdirtying the windows of the buildings. The control means ischaracterized by a sleeve 69 rotatively mounted on the outer end of eachof the branch pipes 23 and-24. The

sleeves 60 are restricted to rotate through substantially one-sixth of acomplete turn relative to the branch pipes 23 and 24 by means of pins 6|extended radially from the branch pipes and through elongatedcircumferential slots formed in the sleeves 6U. l

Extended radially from the sleeves 50, there are bosses 63 throughwhichclamp screws 64 are threadedly engaged. The clamp screws 6'3function to secure the sleeves 63 in the desired rotative positions onthe branch pipes 23 and 24. When the clamp screws 66 are loosened, theyprovide a convenient grip by which the sleeve 6d can be turned in onedirection or the other relative to the branch pipes.

For each of the endmost apertures 34 of the branch pipes 23 and 2d, thesleeves 6% have a pair of apertures 65 and 66 and an unapertured portionall within a sixteen degree are of the sleeves E5. The apertures 65, seeFig. 9, are extended radially through the sleeves 6b concentric with theapertures 3%. When the apertures 55 are aligned with the apertures B tthe steam will be permitted to discharge in sprays projected at rightangles to the lengths of the branch pipes 23 and 24 as though thesleeves E513 were not present. The apertures 65 are aligned with theapertures 34 when the pin ti is located at the one end of the slot 62.

When the sleeves E9 are turned to a position in which the pins iii arelocated intermediate the ends of the slots 62, the apertures 66 becomealigned with the apertures 34, as shown in Fig. 12. The apertures 66 areangled at substantially forty-five degrees from the caps 33 that closethe free ends of the branch pipes 23 and 24. The inner ends of theapertures '65 are concentric with the outer ends of the apertures 34" tocause the steam discharging from the apertures 36 to be directed awayfrom the buildings I8 so as not to flow down the buildings and dirty thewindows thereof.

When the sleeves 60 are turned still further in a clockwise direction asviewed in Figs. 10 and 11, the pins 6| will be located at the ends ofthe slots 62 remote from the ends in which they are located when theapertures 65 are aligned with the apertures 34*. In those positions ofthe sleeves 6!], the apertures 34 will be completely closed so that nosteam will be discharging from the apertures 35 at the outer ends of thebranch pipes 23 and 24.

In all other respects, the modification of the invention shown in Figs.8 to 12 is similar to the first form and like reference numerals areused to identify like parts.

On the drawings, the snow melting device is shown in use in connectionwith urban streets; however, it is appreciated that the device can alsobe used in connection with rural roads. When being used on rural roads,some difiiculty may be encountered from wind blown drifts and that canbe dealt with by depending apertured pipes from the outer ends of thebranch pipes 23 and 24 which is all within the scope and intent of thepresent invention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device for preventing the accumulation of snow on a street,comprising a main feeder pipe supported in an elevated position abovethe street so as not to interfere with the movement of vehicular andpedestrian traffic on the street, branch pipes extended laterally inopposite directions from said feeder pipe and parallel to the streetsurface, caps closing the outer ends of said branch pipes, apertures insaid branch pipes arranged in alternate sets at spaced positions alongthe length thereof, one set of apertures being located at either end ofthe horizontal diametral axis, the other set of apertures being extendedupward and outward on opposite sides of the vertical diametral axis ofsaid branch pipes, and means for generating steam connected to one endof said feeder pipe so constructed and arranged that steam fed into saidmain feeder pipe will discharge through said apertures to melt fallingsnow before it reaches the street surface, said branch pipes havingmeans at their ends remote from said main feeder pipe for controllingthe angle of discharge of the steam or for completely preventing thedischarge of steam from the apertures at the outer ends of the branchpipes, said control means for said branch pipes comprising sleevessnugly fitted onto the outer ends of said branch pipes to be turnedrelative'thereto, means restricting rotation of said sleevesrelative tosaid branch pipes to substantiallyone-sixth of a complete turn, saidsleeves having for each of the respective apertures of said branch pipesa set of spaced apertures and an unapertured portion, and means forholding said sleeves in a desired rotative position in which either oneof said apertures or the unapertured aerator;

portions;- are aligned with the apertures of the branch pipesz 2: Adevice forpreventing theaccumulation of snoW- on a-street; comprisingamainfeederpipe: supported in an elevated position above the-streetaxis,the other set of: aperture being extended upward andoutward onoppositesides of the verticaldiametral axis ofsaid branch pipes, and

means for-generating steam connectedto one end of said feeder pipe soconstructedand arranged that; steam fed into said main feeder pipe willdischarge through said-apertures to melt falling snow before itreachesthe-street surface, said branch pipes having means at their endsremotefronrsaid: mainfeeder pipe for controlling the angle of dischargeof-the steam or-for completely preventing the discharge of steam fromthe apertures at the-outer ends of the-branch pipes, said control meansfor said branch I pipes comprising sleeves-snuglyfitted onto theouterends of saidbranchpipes-to be turned reliativethereto, meansrestricting rotation of said sleeves-relative to said branchpipes-tosubstantially-one-sixth of 'a complete-turn; saidsleeves havingfor each of the respective apertures-of saidbranch pipes-a set of spacedapertures and an unapertured portion, and means for holding-said-sleevesin-a desired rotative position in whiche-ither one of saidaperturesorthe unapertured portions are aligned' with the apertures of the branchpipes, said-rota-' tion restricting means comprising pins extended fromsaid branch pipesandipassing through elongated 1 peripheral slots formedin said sleeves.

3.-'A'- device for preventin the accumulation off snow on a-street,comprising a main feeder pipe supported in an elevated position abovethe street so as not to interfere'withthe movement of vehicularandpedestrian traffic on the street, branchpipes extended laterally inopposite directions from said feeder pipe and parallel to the-streetsurface, caps'closing the outer ends of said branch pipes, apertures insaid branch pipesarranged in alternatesets-at spaced positions along thelength thereof, one set of apertures being located at either end of thehorizontal diametral axis, the other set of apertures being extendedupward and outward on opposite-sides of the verticaldiametralaxis ofsaid branch pipes, and means for generating steam connected to one endof said feeder pipe so constructed and arranged that steam fed into saidmain feeder pipe willdischarge through said apertures tomelt fallingsnow before it reaches the street surface,- saidbranch pipesha-vingmeans at their ends remote from said main feeder-pipe forcontrolling theangle of discharge of the'steam or for completelypreventing-the discharge of steam from the apertures at theouter-endsofthe branch pipes, said controlmeans for said branch pipes comprisingsleeves snugly fitted onto the outer ends ofsaid branchpipestobe turnedrelative thereto, means restricting; rotationzofzsaid; sleeves; relativeto said branchpipesgtosubstantially; one-sixth of a completeaturn', saidsleeves having for each, of the respective apertures of said branchpipes a set. rof spaced aperturesiand an, unapertured portion, and meansfor holding said sleeves in adesired rotative position: in which eitherone of said apertures: or the; unapertured portions are alignedwiththeapertures of the branch pipes,

one aperture" of; each set of spaced aperturesbeing radiallyextendedconcentric with the apertures: of? said: branch pipes and theother, aperture': being angled; from. the outer ends of the apertures-vof: said? branch pipes and away from the closedouter ends of said branchpipes at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees.

41A device for preventing the accumulation of snow on astreet,comprising a main feeder pipesupported 1 in an elevated 1 position abovethe street-so as not tointerfere with the movement ofvehicularandpedestrian trafiic on the street, branch pipes extended laterally inopposite directions from said feeder pipe and parallel tothestreet'surface, caps closing the outer ends of A said-branch pipes,apertures in said branch pipes arranged in'a-It'ernate sets at spacedpositions along the length thereof, one set of apertures beinglocatedateither endof the horizontal diametral axis, the other'set' of 'aperturesbeing extended upward and outward on opposite sides ofthe-verticaldiametral axis of said branch pipes, and means for generating steamconnected to one; end of said feeder pipe so constructed and} arrangedthat steam fed into said main feeder pipe willdischarge through saidapertures to melt falling snow'before it reaches the street surface,said branch pipes having means at their ends remotefrom said main feederpipe for controlling the angleof dischargeof the steam-0r forcompletely-preventing the discharge ofsteam from theapertures at theouter ends of the branch pipes, said control means for said branch pipescomprising sleeves snugly fitted onto the outer ends of said branchpipes to be turned relative thereto,- meansrestricting rotation of saidsleeves relative'to said branch pipes to substantially one-sixth, ofacomplete turn, said sleeves having for each of the respective aperturesof said branch pipes a'set of spaced apertures and an unaperturedportion, and means forgholding said sleeves in a desired rotativeposition in which either one of'said apertures or the unaperturedportions are; aligned with the apertures of the branch pipes, saidholdin means,

comprising clamp screws threaded through apertured bosses formed onsaidsleeves torbe tightened againstsaid branch pipes.

RAMON 'BONILLA.

REFERENCES, CITED The following 7 references are; of record in: thefile-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

